Woman in labour sent away by doctor

Angry relatives of a 24-year-old woman who delivered a stillborn baby in the lobby of the Kamala Nehru Hospital in the wee hours yesterday are alleging medical negligence, saying a doctor did not admit her even though she was in labour.

The woman, Lalita Phulawade, a resident of Shankar Maharaj Vasahat in Dhankawadi, was undergoing check-ups at regular intervals at the hospital over the past six months.

Lalita with husband Sahdev. Pics/Krunal Gosavi

Lalita is the mother of two children, Shivprasad (5) and Gayatri (4). Her husband Sahdev (28) alleged she delivered the stillborn baby in the lobby of the public hospital after she was asked to come back in a few days for her delivery by Dr Dayanand Pawar in spite of the fact that she was in labour.

“My wife was having labour pains since Monday morning, so we brought her to hospital around 4 pm. The gynaecologist at the Out Patient Department asked us to hospitalise her and even said that she might deliver at midnight. But when we took her to the labour ward at 8.30 pm for admission, the doctor on duty there, Dr Dayanand Pawar, said she still had time and was yet not having stress labour pains. He refused admission and asked us to take her back home and admit her on Thursday,” Sahdev said.

Lalita’s mother-in-law said she also pleaded with the hospital to admit the pregnant woman, but to no avail.

The spot in the lobby of the hospital where Lalita Phulawade delivered the stillborn baby in the wee hours yesterday

“I told them that the pain was very severe and it would be better if she is admitted right away. But they did not agree and asked us to come on April 26 as the expected date of delivery was April 27,” she said.

Lalita’s relatives, who had come all prepared for her admission, then decided to go back. A little later, Lalita’s pain became unbearable for her.

“As the pain had become uncontrollable for her, we were forced to come back all the way from Dhankawadi. As she reached the gate of the hospital, she collapsed and within a few moments delivered a stillborn baby boy,” Sahdev said.

After they were informed about the incident, the hospital staff rushed to the spot and took Lalita to the maternity ward, where the baby was declared born dead.

The Kamala Nehru Hospital in Mangalwar Peth. Pics/Krunal Gosavi

Hospital officials refused to comment on the issue.

Dr S T Pardeshi, medical officer, health, Pune Municipal Corporation, said the doctor concerned had been asked to give an explanation. “It seems to be negligence on the part of Dr Pawar and we have given 24 hours’ notice to the doctor to submit his explanation in this regard,” Pardeshi said.

The baby’s body was sent to the Sassoon General Hospital for post-mortem. No police complaint had been registered at the time of going to press.